Re: What are a couple of good flowers for flower dissections?

Generally, for high school or college level you want at a minimum one monocot 
and one dicot flower. To show diversity of flower morphology, you would 
probably also want examples of several other flowers. Usually flowers from 
common or economically important plant families are used. It also often depends 
on what is available at the time either from the florist or blooming outdoors 
in abundance where it can be collected. However, don't collect endangered or 
protected wildflower species. For younger students and if dissecting 
microscopes are not available, larger flowers are probably an advantage. To add 
interest, you might wish to include your state flower or tree, if the state 
tree is a flowering plant. 

For monocot flowers, lily is often used as a "typical" monocot flower. Also 
commonly used are tulip and gladiolus, which, like lily, are available from 
florists. Glasiolus may be cheaper because it has several flowers per stem. 
Amaryllis bulbs sold for forcing at Christmas have huge "typical" flowers. To 
demonstrate diversity of flower structure, a grass flower stalk is often 
included because the grass family is so important and their flowers are adapted 
for wind pollination. An orchid flower is often included to represent the 
orchid family, given that it is the largest family. 
 
For dicot flowers, cherry, apple, pear, or other rose family member is often 
used as a "typical" dicot flower. To illustrate diversity, try a primitive 
flower, such as magnolia or tuliptree; a wind pollinated tree flower, such as 
oak, maple, or willow; a crucifer family flower, such as broccoli from a 
supermarket or Wisconsin Fast Plant; a daisy or sunflower for the aster or 
composite family; and a pea, sweet pea, or bean for the legume family. Other 
dicot flowers that can be used are kalanchoe, snapdragon, petunia, African 
violet, evening primrose, strawberry, cucumber tomato, and many others.  

References


Dissected Flower Photos


Flower Dissection Lab


Amaryllis Flower Dissection


Snapdragon, Gladiolus and Lily Flower Dissections